Provided by the United Way of Bucks County:
The United Way of Bucks County building in Fairless Hills.
Credit: Tom Sofield/NewtownPANow.com
Through a new collaborative and community-based effort, United Way of Bucks County announces community investments totaling $510,000 for 2017. These investments are part of the agency’s larger investment strategy which totals roughly $2.6 million of programs, goods, and services in Bucks County.
Over the course of 2016, United Way worked with over 75 different service providers, community members, and representatives from county government to determine community investments to be made in 2017.
Community Solutions Teams were formed in five key areas: Early Child Care and Education; Access to Benefits and Assistance for Senior Citizens; Information and Referral Services; Help with Emergency Needs; and Hunger and Food Insecurity. A sixth team focused on Housing and Homelessness expects to begin work in the new year.
Early Child Care and Education
$100,000 will be invested in two parenting and family engagement programs. Family Service Association’s Parents as Teachers and Nurturing Parent programs will receive $50,000 and a partnership between Child Home and Community and the YWCA of Bucks County will receive $50,000 to implement their Building the Family program.
Access to Benefits and Assistance for Senior Citizens
$150,000 will be invested in a multi-pronged approach to connect the county’s senior citizens to needed services. $75,000 will be awarded to Family Service Association to help seniors navigate the various enrollment forms and $75,000 will be used to provide emergency assistance to low-income seniors.
Information and Referral Services
$60,000 will be awarded to Family Service Association to improve the services offered through United Way’s First Call for Help Line. This information and referral system is designed to be the primary entry point to the various services available to Bucks County residents.
Help with Emergency Needs
$100,000 will be invested in maintaining and creating Emergency Needs Funds for low- and moderate-income households. $50,000 will support Bucks County Opportunity Council’s Emergency Services Program which provides financial assistance to residents facing a one-time financial hardship. An additional $50,000 will be invested in a new collaborative effort focused on providing utility assistance and transportation assistance to low- and moderate-income residents. The new collaborative currently includes Advocates for the Homeless and Those in Need, Bucks County Opportunity Council, Family Service Association of Bucks County, Lily’s Hope Foundation, Mental Health Association of Southeastern PA, Network of Victim Assistance, United Way of Bucks County, and A Woman’s Place.
Hunger and Food Insecurity
$100,000 will be invested in a new consortium consisting of Bucks County Opportunity Council, Philabundance, Rolling Harvest Food Rescue, St. Mary Medical Center Families Living Well Program, and United Way of Bucks County. The consortium will develop and implement a mobile, neighborhood food distribution program to aid low-income individuals and families who struggle with transportation to access food support in their home communities.
